Ashlee White, Z A V, and Geesus Shuttlesworth — “Battle” Visual

We spend a significant portion of our lives learning about major wars throughout history or even living through them, but often the most severe conflicts occur within. These are the battles that can’t end with the wave of a white flag or some other type of agreement. They live with us, haunt us, and make us wonder if we can move forward; if life is worth the living. The type of strife you can’t smoke away, a recurring theme in the latest offering from Ashlee White, Z A V, and Geesus Shuttlesworth.

Though they are all facing separate issues, the common thread they share is pain. Pain brings us together, for better or worse. The world understandably discourages trauma bonding, but their relatable narratives can make any listener feel tied to one or all of them. That is because the “Battle” visual, directly by Vibes By June takes us through each of their stories, but also incorporates the multiple century-spanning Black struggles in the U.S.A. This means that even though their problems are individually different, their stories still and always will intertwine.

Ashlee White kicks off with “Battling myself, dark room / Distracting myself with some cartoons till my eyes low / Wonder where the time goes?” Escapism helps…